U.S. Special Operations Command hosted a memorial ceremony in honor of retired U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. William Dawson “Billy” Waugh on June 27 at the MacDill Air Force Base theater.

Sgt. Maj. Waugh enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1948 and was assigned to the 187th Regimental Combat Team (Airborne) during the Korean War. Following the war, he earned his Green Beret and served in multiple Special Forces units, spending 7 ½ years in Southeast Asia. He served honorably for 24 years before retiring in 1972.

In 1977, Sgt. Maj. Waugh began working for the Central Intelligence Agency, participating in numerous clandestine missions with the Special Activities Division for more than 25 years. Notable missions included surveillance of Carlos the Jackal and Osama bin Laden. He also was one of the first Americans in Afghanistan after Sept. 11, 2001, working with a CIA team to topple the Taliban.

The ceremony honors the life and contributions of Sgt. Maj. Waugh to Special Forces and the intelligence community. Speakers include: Army Gen. Bryan Fenton, commander, USSOCOM; Enrique Prado, retired CIA; Maj. Gen. Patrick Roberson, deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Special Operations Command; and retired Army Lt. Gen. John Mulholland, former commanding general, USASOC.